NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Former All-Star pitcher Dan Haren is returning to the D-backs in the newly created position of pitching strategist.
In the role, Haren will work with the D-backs' front office, the Major League coaching staff and the analytics department.
"I'm thrilled to be rejoining the D-backs for this new venture," Haren said in a statement. "I'm excited to use my experience and work with the staff to help our pitchers prepare and maximize their opportunity to be successful."
With all the data now available to teams, it can be a lot to ask a pitching coach to handle all of that plus deal with the 12 or 13 pitchers on a daily basis. So Haren will help take some of that off the plate of pitching coach Mike Butcher.

Haren pitched in parts of 13 seasons in the big leagues, compiling a 153-131 record and a 3.75 ERA over 391 games.
The 36-year-old pitched two-plus seasons in Arizona, where he was 37-26 with a 3.56 ERA and an ERA+ of 125.
Haren, who was selected for three All-Star teams, including two while with the D-backs, was acquired by Arizona prior to the 2008 season and was dealt to the Angels prior to the non-waiver Trade Deadline in 2010.
"As we look to integrate a lot of the information that we'd like to from various sources that are coming into the game, [we need] somebody to be able to translate that and implement that," D-backs GM Mike Hazen said. "You don't want it to fall on the pitching coach all the time because the pitching coach has so many other responsibilities during the course of the day."
Haren has become a popular follow on Twitter since his retirement, though some of that might have to be curbed given his new role.

Hazen is certainly familiar with Haren's tweeting, admitting that he has been a follower -- and a fan -- of the former pitcher's wit.
"We haven't come to a full agreement on that yet," Hazen said with a smile when asked if Haren would keep tweeting. "He may be educating our players on how not to tweet. Or not tweeting at all, I should say. We're going to still come to an agreement on that. You never want to cage the wit."